MXPA05000188A - Method and apparatus for detecting multiple optical wave lengths. - Google Patents

Abstract

Optical gratings that perform a number of functions at various wavelengths are formed by various methods that preserve spectral information within a wavelength band, the functions including: coupling radiation from one waveguide to another, controllable gratings that operate on different wavelengths in response to external control signals.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING MULTIPLE OPTICAL WAVE LENGTHS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the detection of optical signals and, more particularly, to the detection of multiple optical wavelengths with optical superglasses.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Grids are optical devices used to obtain wavelength dependent characteristics by means of optical interference effects. These optical characteristics that depend on the wavelength can serve, for example, to reflect light of a specific wavelength while transmitting or refracting light at all other wavelengths. Such features are useful in a wide range of situations, including the removal of individual wavelength channels in optical communication systems multiplexed by wavelength division (WDM), or by providing specific wavelength feedback for tunable lasers. or semiconductors of multiple wavelengths. Grids are usually implemented by modulating (varying) the effective refractive index of a waveguide structure. These changes in the refractive index cause the wavelengths of incident light to be reflected or refracted: in the case of a sudden interconnection between two index values, the incident light directly in the interconnection is reflected according to the law of reflection Well-known Fresnel. The term "multiple wavelength grid" generally refers to a grid that is capable of displaying optical characteristics at many wavelengths. For example, a multiple wavelength grid may be a grid that reflects light at various selected wavelengths (which may correspond to specific optical communication channels), although it is still transparent to light at other wavelengths. However, in some situations there is a need to establish the optical characteristics for a continuous range of wavelengths, rather than specific wavelength values. For example, when trying to compensate for the irregularity of the optical gain profiles in laser cavities and optical amplifiers by means of an optical grid. However, to obtain this requirement for a continuous range of wavelengths it is difficult to satisfy with traditional grid technologies. Similarly, a range of optical wavelengths can be used where many communication channels are encoded within a single optical cable by using different wavelengths of light; more commonly known as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology. Periodic grids are often used to separate or process these channels. However, the process of periodic grid technologies at a wavelength, the force devices are designed to process multiple wavelengths to use multiple single wavelength periodic grids. This is not an attractive solution because, at the top of the additional losses generated by each grid, even a single grid takes up a considerable amount of space for the current integration and miniaturization standards. Therefore, it is desired to have a single device capable of processing various wavelengths in a space-efficient manner. In the domain of semiconductor lasers, the output wavelength of semiconductor lasers is determined primarily by the presence of surrounding "feedback elements", or within the laser gain section, which act to reflect light in the desired wavelength back inside the laser. For multiple wavelength operation, multiple wavelength feedback is needed. Again, the unique wavelength grid technology can only solve this demand with a cascade of simple grids, which generates the same loss (if not more noticeable) and space problems mentioned above. One such single wavelength grating device is a Bragg grid. The Bragg grid consists of a periodic variation in the refractive index and acts as a reflector for a single wavelength of light related to the periodicity (known as step,?) Of the index pattern; and it is often used in both semiconductor systems, fiber optic systems. However, in practice, the Bragg grating may actually reflect various wavelengths, which correspond to its fundamental passage above us. However, these higher order wavelengths tend to be in very different spectral regions compared to the fundamental wavelength, which makes the Bragg grid less than useful as a multiple wavelength reflector. In addition, these higher order wavelengths can not be tuned independently of each other. Other multi-wavelength grid technologies include: analog overlay grids, sampled grids (SG), superstructure grids (SSG) and binary super grids (BSG). The superimposed analog grids are a generalization of the Bragg grid and are based on a superposition principle: a grid profile consists of the sum of the single wavelength grid index profiles reflect in their entirety their constituent wavelengths. Such a grid is based on an analog index variation, that is, a refractive index that changes continuously along the length of the grid (Figure 30). However, it is difficult to inscribe strong analog grids using the well-known photo-refraction effect, since the index change under illumination varies non-linearly, and is usually saturated with stronger exposures. Likewise, returning the analog surface release grids (a typical mode for semiconductors) becomes impractical because of the difficulty of reproducibly recording analog characteristics on a surface. This last difficulty arises from the introduction of binary grids, that is, grids that are based only on two refractive index values that correspond to material that is recorded or not recorded, that is illuminated or that is not illuminated. Two representations of multiple wavelength binary grids are sampled grids (SG) and superstructure grids (SSG). The SGs are constructed with alternating grid sections and grid-free regions of the waveguide. The alternating sections produce diffraction spectra having multiple reflectance peaks that are contained within a (typically) symmetric envelope. The SG is intrinsically limited in the flexibility in the location and relative resistance of the reflectance peaks and, due to the large fraction of space without grid, they are also spatially inefficient. Therefore, the SG is not particularly suitable when a short grid is required or when the waveguide losses are large. With the superstructure grid (SSG), the grid period is pressed by finely varying the grid pitch, which corresponds to the length of a tooth slot cycle. This can also be considered as a sequence of finely tuned phase shifts; the common phase profiles include linear and quadratic pulses. Such implementation in principle allows arbitrary peak positions and relative heights, but only at the expense of extremely high resolution, which corresponds to a very small fraction of the size of the grid teeth themselves. The prior art with respect to binary superimposed grid synthesis is presented in Ivan A. Avrutsky, Dave S. Ellis, Alex Tager, Hanan Anis, and Jimmy M. Xu, "Design of widely tunable semiconductor lasers and the concept of Binary Superimposed Gratings (BSG's), "IEEE J. Quantum Electron., Vol. 34, pp. 729-740, 1998. Other methods in the prior art solve the synthesis of "multiple peak" grids - that is, gratings characterized by reflectance to several "peaks" which can be controlled in their position and strength. In these methods, a grid engineer starts with a set of sinusoids, each sinusoid corresponds to a single reflectance peak and is weighted according to the desired relative strength of the peak. These peaks are added together (that is, they overlap; therefore, the BSG is known as a superimposed grid) to produce an "analog profile". This profile is then quantified digitally by a simple threshold method. For example, if the analog profile value is positive (above a pre-selected reference), then the corresponding BSG segment is a high or binary index value 1. If it is negative, the corresponding BSG segment is a low index value or binary zero However, this solution is not suitable in at least two areas: first, the threshold quantization procedure introduces intermodulation, which greatly limits the applicability of the BSGs synthesized in this way to active applications (feedback elements). of laser and the like). Second, this synthesis procedure is limited to multiple peak gratings and offers little or no control over the shape of the individual peak. For example, it is completely incapable of generating flat top channels, as desired for some communication applications, or to generate almost arbitrary reflectance spectra demanded by some gain compensation and dispersion compensation methods. Other methods for synthesis by BSG include trial and error methods that are very often computationally difficult and inefficient. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for correcting the disadvantages observed in the above in the design and synthesis of super gratings to detect optical wavelengths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, which should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic of a deep grid BSG; Figure 2 is a picture of space k of the reasoning behind the baseband exclusion; Figure 3 is a prototypical diagram of a lateral BSG in a waveguide with ridges; Figure 4 is a schematic of a two-dimensional (2D) prototype super grid; Figure 5 is a schematic of a one-dimensional (1D) super-grid implemented with a BSG (2D); Figure 6 is a schematic of a prototype three-dimensional (3D) super grid; Figures 7a-7d show modalities of programmable superglasses; Figure 8 is a schematic of a BSG coupling of asymmetric codirectional waveguide; Figure 9 is a schematic of a counter-directional asymmetrical waveguide BSG coupler; Figure 10 is a schematic of a counter-directional symmetrical waveguide BSG coupler; Figure 11 is a schematic of a grid topology crossbar switch; Fig. 12 is a schematic of one mode of a four-fiber switch using six switch elements; Figure 13 illustrates the method of a photon for implementing a BSG on an optical fiber; Figure 14 illustrates a multiphoton method (two photons are shown) of implementation of BSG in optical fiber; Figure 15 is a schematic of a demultiplexer using a BSD 1D; Figure 16 is a schematic of a demultiplexer that uses a 2D BSG; Fig. 17 is a schematic of a static drop / add filter; Fig. 18 is a schematic of a Vernier tuner dynamic down / add filter; Figure 19 is a schematic of a programmable BSG downlink / add filter; Figures 20a-20c are modalities of wavelength stability monitors based on BSG; Figure 21 is a schematic of a 2D BSG network monitor; Figures 22a-22d are a schematic of a dynamic WDM equalizer BSG; Figures 23a-23d are a schematic of a flat gain optical amplifier; Figures 24a-24b are patterns of lambda router modes; Figures 25a-25d are patterns of dispersion slope compensators BSG; Figures 26a-26b are schemes of tunable dispersion compensators; Figures 27a-27c are variable feedback supercomputing laser schemes; Figures 28a-28b are a scheme of beam combiners, in coupled waveguide and 2D BSG modes; Figure 29a is a schematic of an insulator based on BSG; Figures 29b-29c are 4-port coupled waveguide circuitry schemes; Figure 30 is an analog index profile of a refractive index change graph delta-n (??) versus distance (x); Figure 31 shows the BSG index profile of ?? versus distance x and the corresponding implementation of surface release; Fig. 32 is a block diagram showing a standard topology for a Delta-Sigma modulation; Figure 33 illustrates the synthesis technique for a BSG using induced symmetry; Figure 34 illustrates a synthesis technique for a BSG using super-Nyquist synthesis; and Figure 35 is a flow chart showing method steps of one embodiment of the present invention for synthesizing a BSG; Figures 36a and 36b illustrate a simplified example of a demultiplexer compared to separate components; Figures 37a to 45 illustrate embodiments using a pixel pattern that provides a photonic band separation structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many forms of alternative embodiments and it is not intended that this invention be limited only to the embodiments shown. For purposes of this invention, grids are considered to be optical devices used to obtain wavelength-dependent characteristics by means of optical interference effects. Starting with the binary super grids (BSG) it will be appreciated that there are two main properties that differentiate the BSG from other grid technologies. The first is that BSGs are based on a defined number of refractive index levels. This number is historically 2 and therefore the BSG are known as a binary grid. For purposes of clarity and for illustration, this description will focus on the binary mode of the present invention. However, it will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments any suitable amount of separate levels of refractive indexes may be used. For convenience in the claims, the term "super grating" is used to refer to gratings with two or more values of refractive index, unless specifically indicated in another sense. The second defining property of the BSG is that the grid resembles a sampled structure characterized by a sample length. This refers to the fact that transitions between grid index levels can not occur at arbitrary positions but, rather, occur at multiples of the sample length. In this way the BSG is similar in definition to a digital signal pattern - that is, a separate sampled waveform. In this way, the BSG can be described by a series of digits (with binary frequencies) indicating the setting or setting of the refractive index at each sample point (see Figure 31). With reference now to Figure 35, the design of the BSG involves several key selections. Step 351 selects the refractive index levels for the device, determined from material parameters and lithographic and photo-registration limitations. Step 352 then determines the desired sample length, considering the desired wavelength range for the gate and the available lithographic resolution. Step 353 establishes a total device length for the grid, limited by the available physical space and the technological limitations of the registration procedure. It will be appreciated that the methods described herein are for determining grid patterns for surface release grids.; however, in alternative modes the methods can be easily adapted to fiber grid patterns or to programmable implementations. The next step 354 converts the desired grid diffraction characteristics in the Fourier domain using a Fourier approximation. These diffraction characteristics may be reflective, transmissive, co-directional or counter-directional coupling, or dispersion character, or any combination thereof; it will be appreciated that "reflectance" and "reflection" can be substituted by "cross-transmittance" and "cross-transmission" throughout this document. Guided by the Fourier approximation, the designer can initially design the grid for its Fourier spectrum. As will be demonstrated in the following, this stage can also implement feedback to take into account various inaccuracies of the approach in order to improve the final result. Alternatively, any method for designing the analog reflection index profile to obtain the desired diffraction characteristics is suitable, and many are known in the art. The next step 355 performs a quantization of the analog index profile. Delta-Sigma modulation is one such quantification technique that can be used and can be effectively implemented. It will be appreciated that in alternative modalities any suitable quantization technique that conserves Fourier information within a spectral band can be used. The synthesis methods and the resulting gratings using a threshold quantification technique such as that shown in the reference cited by Avrutsky et al., Which does not preserve Fourier information within a spectral band are not favored, but may be useful in some circumstances. In the case of two-dimensional or three-dimensional radiation processing, where the displacement radiation in two or three dimensions is significant, and a distribution or arrangement of pixels that extend in two or three dimensions is significant, any quantization method can be used. to design an appliance that is within the definition. The next step 356 determines the actual diffraction characteristics of the BSG using an exact technique such as one known as the transfer matrix method. This calculation determines the residual errors of the Fourier approximation or other synthesis methods used and quantifies an error that can be taken again in the Fourier domain and added to the result of step 353 if step 357 determines that the error exceeds a predetermined threshold. This procedure may be repeated as necessary, although a repetition is often sufficient. It will be appreciated that any suitable technique can be used to determine the error between the desired diffraction characteristics and the actual diffraction characteristics. Referring now to each of the previous steps in greater detail; in step 353, the Fourier approximation is a mathematical relationship that relates the diffraction characteristics of the grid (which may be reflective, transmissive or scattering, or any combination thereof) with respect to the structure of its profile of index. In other words, single wavelength gratings have reflectance spectra precisely characterized by their periodic structure, and simple superimposed gratings have reflectance spectra characterized by their wavelength or components of reflectance spectra. Therefore, the diffraction pattern of a grid can be related to the Fourier transform of its structure - the Fourier transform is the standard method for evaluating the "frequency content" or "wavelength content of a form". Therefore, it will be appreciated that the invention advantageously uses a Fourier approximation to provide a means (the inverse of the Fourier transform) to generate an analog refractive index profile from the desired reflectance specifications. it will be appreciated that the quantization step of the analog index profile (step 355) can be carried out no matter how the analog profile is determined., the analog profile does not need to be obtained using Fourier-based methods. The following examples illustrate the Fourier approximation for the synthesis of BSG. Synthesis of simple peaks: In some situations, such as laser feedback elements, it is desired that the BSG reflect light in a given set of wavelengths and perform this with the highest possible wavelength selectivity. That is, the specification is for simple peaks with a minimum channel width. Such peaks can be derived from the superposition of sinusoidal profiles: where ai, ?? and 0i are the amplitude, the spatial frequency and the peak phase, respectively, and x is the position along the length of the grid. Most situations determine the amplitude coefficients. However, many do not require anything specific to the phase. In general, the component phases should be selected so that they minimize the maximum height of the overlap (which consequently flattens the overall envelope), given the component amplitudes. The use of phase information to produce a flat envelope can greatly increase the efficiency of the grid. This illustrates a general principle of the BSG design: in most cases, the analog index profile (before quantization) should preferably have an envelope as flat as possible. This is desirable because a flat envelope represents a uniform distribution of the grid force, and makes the use of the available index modulation more efficient. The phase optimization step according to this invention facilitates large increases in the reflective efficiency of the BSG. It will be appreciated that increasing the number of reflective peaks produces a sublinear increment in the required index modulation. That is, in order to double the number of peaks but maintaining the peak reflectance, the index stage does not need to be duplicated. Synthesis of bandpass channels. A grid is often required to separate or select optical communication channels multiplexed by wavelength division. These channels are described by their wavelength (position) and their bandwidth (width). The grids are also typically accompanied by specifications of the strength of the reflection and the spectral planarity of the channel. Such a bandpass filter design is commonly found in the FIR filter theory, and therefore there are many approaches to its solution. The technique presented here is based on the window selection method (interval): The main principle in the synthesis of structured grid spectra, such as the bandpass filter, is the use of analytically determined solutions to a problem approximate design: it is known that certain filter forms, such as the filter with the flat top, correspond to certain mathematical functions. For example, it is known that the function resembles the form d? "? ? ß ?? d? sencf fl) j l = i i) L p p? where i is the segment number BSG, corresponds to an ideal low pass filter of width d ?. This filter can be converted into a bandpass filter centered around the ooc frequency by multiplying it with an appropriate sinusoidal, resulting in the filter: where the peak is centered approximately in coc and has a width of ?? Unfortunately, this filter, characterized by an abrupt transition from the bandpass to the stop band, requires an infinite length for its implementation. Simply mowing the filter to the desired length will produce undesirable oscillatory characteristics known as Gibbs phenomena. This is a common problem in FIR design, and one approach to this solution is the window selection method. The window selection method observes the mowing as a multiplication by a function d window that is zero in the mown regions. The theory considers the operation of mowing as multiplication by a "rectangular window" which is equal to one within the region to be maintained, and zero outside the sections that are to be mown. The theory argues that this rectangular window is responsible for the Gibbs phenomenon. Window functions that can be used for mowing generally perform a non-ideal bandpass filter by producing a finite "transition width" between the pass band and the stop band, in contrast to the ideal filter, which does not it requires width for the transition. However, the FIR filter theory suggests several acceptable, although not ideal, window functions. One such window function is the Kaiser window - a window function designed with the ideal low pass filter (and therefore band pass) in mind and which allows the designer to adapt the transition characteristics through a parameter ß. The Kaiser window in this way is suitable for the synthesis of BSG and provides the added flexibility of controlling the shape and precision of the reflectance channels. However, this is only one of the many FIR techniques that can be used to obtain this result and the synthesis of BSG by Fourier methods is not limited to this particular method. It will be appreciated that the analog profile corresponding to a channel with the flat upper part makes greater use of the center of the grid. As in the case of the multiple peak, this situation is undesirable since the use of grid resources from the center becomes inefficient. A convenient solution to this problem is to disperse or toggle the waveforms associated with individual channels when they overlap. Together with a phase optimization technique such as that used for the multi-peak grid, this procedure can allow very efficient use of grid resources. In some embodiments, reflectance applications do not correspond to particular elementary forms such as bandpass channels or peaks. Profit compensation profiles for optical amplifiers and dispersion-compensation grids fall into this category. In these modalities, the grids can be synthesized using the discrete Fourier transform. The discrete Fourier transforms and the related fast Fourier transform (FFT) are versions of the Fourier transform that operate on a finite number of sampled points. Being related to the regular Fourier transform, the Fourier approximation and its implications in the synthesis of BSG are carried out on DFT. A DFT that operates on a set of a point with a real value 1 returns a set of 1/2 independent frequency components. In this way, a desired grid with 1 segment can be assigned reflectance values at 1/2 wavelengths, but not between wavelengths. An example of the BSG synthesis using the DFT is carried out as follows: The frequency-domain specifications are inserted within an array of length 1, the proposed device length (in terms of number of samples) in an appropriate manner for the reverse DFT operation. This can be done by "sampling" the continuous version of the Fourier domain specifications at certain points or, alternatively by "drawing" the specification directly in a form suitable for the DFT. The DFT inverse of the array is determined later. Various known forms of "regularization" can be applied to the resulting waveform in order to reduce the oscillatory characteristics among the frequency samples.

Once the analog index profile has been synthesized, it may require several modifications. One such modification is filtering by a separate-sum type filter. Another modification is one in which the waveform must be scaled to a level appropriate to the approaching Delta-Sigma modulation stage. For example, this can be done by rescaling the waveform so that it has an amplitude of 1. Quantification of Delta-Sigma modulation (DSM) The Fourier domain synthesis presented so far produces an analog grid profile . However, the BSG requires a separate profile using only a small number (usually two) of index values. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments any suitable number of separate values may be used, such as for example the super octal grid (OSG). One technique for the quantification (ie, to return separately) of the grid profile is the Delta-Sigma modulation. However, any suitable quantization technique can be used. A preferable requirement for the quantification of an analog profile by Fourier methods is that which preserves the spectral information in the frequency band of importance. For example, Delta-Sigma modulation is designed to "filter out" quantization noise from a given frequency band, which leaves the spectral information in that band largely unaltered. Other methods of quantification with improvements can also be applied such as when considering grid effects that are not evident in the frequency domain. In any case, the selected quantization method preferably retains the spectral characteristics of small length in the band of importance, as required by the Fourier approximation, which becomes accurate in the small amplitude domain. It will be appreciated that the BSG synthesis method by Fourier and the following quantification presented here are not limited to the Delta-Sigma quantification. With reference to Figure 32, a DSM feedback procedure 320 is shown to improve quantization after a loop filter 322 by making use of the measured quantization error 321. That is, DSM quantizes its input using a threshold in unit 323, but keeps track of any important information that is lost by the quantization in unit 323 and feeds this information back to its input in filter 322. It will be appreciated that in alternative modalities any suitable digital quantifier can be used. Error and repetition feedback. Once the Fourier grid reflectance spectra have been quantified, the synthesis is almost complete. The performance of the grid can be evaluated using a standard test such as the transfer matrix method to determine the synthesis error. The synthesis error refers to the difference between the desired reflectance spectrum and the spectrum measured by the transfer matrix method. In one mode, the error can be evaluated and used to bypass the design specifications by subtracting the error from the frequency-domain specifications of the grid. Then you can use the new specifications to repeat the synthesis process and generate an improved grid. In an alternative mode, the error which is measured in the frequency domain can be roughly transformed into the spatial domain and can be added to the analog grid profile (the grid before quantization). This last form is a general and powerful technique that can be used independently of the synthesis method used in the frequency domain. The error feedback process can be repeated as desired, but often a single repetition is sufficient. The convergence of the feedback process for regions of small amplitude frequency is guaranteed by the Fourier approximation described above. It will be appreciated that the present invention advantageously allows a designer to compare the error feedback correction with grid correction techniques in order to correct the diffraction-characteristic domain distortions. For example, certain peaks may have characteristic shapes to which they distort in the reflectance domain, for which any of the error feeds described in the foregoing may be correct. The present invention allows the designer to weigh the advantages of error feedback as compared to the application of grid resources. Alternative modalities of BSG synthesis Synthesis with induced symmetry With reference to Figure 33, an elementary property of the sampled signals is that their Fourier spectrum shows a symmetry around integer multiples of a characteristic frequency known as the Nyquist frequency. In certain applications, such as filters with large amounts of identical peaks, there is a similar symmetry in the reflectance specification. The principle of induced symmetry synthesis is that the symmetry of the reflectance specifications can be reproduced by the symmetry around the Nyquist frequency, so that the grid resources need to be used only to create half of the spectral characteristics. A good example for this method is the synthesis of a filter with ten peaks of reflectance separated equally. Using the principle of induced symmetry synthesis, the designer can select a sampling length that places the Nyquist frequency precisely in the middle part of the ten peaks, that is, in the line of symmetry of the specifications. The designer can then move forward to synthesize a grid for the five lower peaks. The top five peaks appear automatically due to the frequency domain symmetry. Super-Nyquist Synthesis Often the resolution required for a grid inscription exceeds the available resolution. For example, when designing a BSG for a wavelength range of 1550 nm in gallium.arsenur (n = 3.2) it is convenient to place the Nyquist rate at 1550 nm (to make use, for example, of the synthesis of induced symmetry ), which corresponds to a sample length of approximately 120 nm. This characteristic size is too small for optical photolithography and requires the use of more expensive electron beam lithography. However, Nyquist states that the frequency content above the Nyquist limit consists of repeated copies, known as images, of the spectral information below the Nyquist limit. Therefore, the grid characteristics can be generated above the Nyquist (super-Nyquist) rate by synthesizing its grid image that is below the Nyquist limit. In this way, super-Nyquist synthesis is useful, for example, to reduce the resolution that is required for the gallium-arsenide grid of 1550 nm discussed above. By selecting the "third order" synthesis, the designer can select the sample length such that the region of 1550 nm corresponds to three times the Nyquist frequency, as indicated in Figure 34. The designer can then shift the characteristics of Fourier grid for multiple integers of the sampling rate (twice the Nyquist frequency), so that it is in the "base band" below the Nyquist frequency. A grid synthesized for these displaced characteristics shows grid characteristics that are desired, just under three times the Nyquist frequency, due to the phenomenon of image formation. In addition, the sample length for this new grid is 360 nm, which is more appropriate for optical lithography. It will be appreciated that the super-Nyquist synthesis advantageously reduces the resolution requirements. Super grid applications Reduction of the super grid dispersion With reference to figure 1, a schematic of the BSG is shown 1 of deep grid formed in the upper lining 13 which is combined with the core 12 and the lower lining 11 to form the structure. A concern in the design of the super grid is the scattering losses due to the radiant grid modes, which arise from spatial-low frequency components in the grid. This dispersion arises from an incomplete activation of the phase matching conditions in the direction normal to the grid, and is more prevalent with shallow grids. The deeper recorded features of the present invention reduce this dispersion by occupying a greater distance in the normal direction, which forms the well-known Huygens principle and Fourier considerations, leading to a more robust phase matching requirement in the normal dimension; so it reduces dispersion efficiency (unwanted). More quantitatively, the grid characteristics should ideally be dictated at depth, up to a depth that exceeds the wavelength of the material in the coating (Amat = ?? nvestment) and the extinction constant of this modal tail should be less than 1 / Amat in the grid region (alternatively, the BSG can be implemented in the core region 12 in the center mode, in which case the core 12 must be wider than Amat, or in such a way that the index disturbance cover the entire modal profile). This ensures relatively uniform contributions from the normal extent of the grid, thereby improving the cancellation of the dispersed component. The analysis continues when considering the product of the index profile and the modal profile 15: the wider and flatter the product, the narrower is its Fourier transform and therefore the representation of space k in the normal direction is narrower . This increased restriction in the phase match condition decreases the range (for example, in terms of output angle) over which a guided wave can be coupled to radiating modes and therefore reduces the aggregate scattering loss. Referring also to Figure 2, a illustration of space k of the reasoning behind the baseband exclusion is shown. By including the base band of space k (ie, low spatial frequencies) as an additional "region of interest" improves synthesis by significantly reducing unwanted higher order coupling mediated by small k components. In alternative embodiments, supergrids may be implemented using any means for varying the effective (or modal) refractive index that includes a surface release mode (see FIG. 3). An alternative is to make changes in the modal index by varying one or more side dimensions of a one-dimensional waveguide. This can be carried out in the case of a grid waveguide 30 by varying its width, as shown in FIG. 3 from a logical value zero to a logical value one. This modality has many advantages: the waveguide 30 and the BSG 31 can be made a pattern and can be recorded together, so that manufacturing is simplified; the waveguide and grid automatically auto-align, facilitating tolerances; and multi-grid grating can be made as easily as two-tier BSGs. Superdraws 2d (two-dimensional) In one embodiment, the BSG takes the form of a one-dimensional sequence of high-index and low-index lines, and can emulate an almost arbitrary superposition of vectors k (ie, spatial frequency components) of different magnitude but of similar orientation. The BSG can be extended in two dimensions, where it takes the form of a matrix of high and low index pixels implanted in the plane of a flat waveguide; this may be further extended to include any number of separate levels. The 2D BSG (and more generally the 2D super grid) can emulate the almost arbitrary superposition of vectors k of different magnitude and of different orientation (within the plane of the grid). In practical terms, this means that the 2D BSG can direct and focus the light according to a wavelength and angles in the input and output plane, and in this way, functionalities such as beam shaping, selective wavelength stratification and multiplexing are allowed and spatial demultiplexing. 2D Super-grid Modalities Referring now to Figure 4, a schematic of a "super grid" 2D 40 prototype, referred to as BSG, stands for binary super grid. A 2D super grid is an optical device that has a two-dimensional distribution of index modulated pixels, modulated in effective index, modulated in gain or modulated in loss that normally uses a finite set of two or more levels of the parameter of the modulated parameters and is used in such a way that the light propagates in the plane of the arrangement. The term "propagation layer" will be used to refer to the layer through which light travels. The term "modulation layer" will be used to refer to the layer that carries the physical change that causes the change in the modal refractive index of the structure. In some cases, the two layers will be the same - for example when using ion implantation. In other cases, they will be different for example when a coating is recorded or when a controllable finger is applicable to make contact with the propagation layer. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand at what time the terms are used. The pixels can be distributed in any ordered or periodic structure, for example a grid distribution and can use an arbitrary but repeated form. The shaded pixels indicate a high index value and the white pixels indicate a low index value. Examples are rectangular pixel distributions in a rectangular distribution, scatter points in a triangular mesh, or hexagonal pixels in a hexagonal mesh. The manufactured form of this device can show the non-binary form or even a continuum of modulation levels due to the technical difficulties associated with the elaboration of a perfect physical structure, but nevertheless, the pixels are inscribed with a finite set of methods or Registration parameters that correspond to the ideal set of levels that return a 2D BSG to the device. Such a device can allow specific optical processing of both angle and wavelength, in addition to emulating traditional optical components such as mirrors and lenses. The pixels of a 2D BSG are the quantized representation of an analog profile that has been quantified by a method that preserves the Fourier information (without adding or subtracting characteristics significantly) in one or more regions of interest in the spatial frequency representation Two-dimensional grid that corresponds to regions of interest in terms of specific diffraction characteristics of angle and wavelength. Synthesis of 2D super grid A synthesis method of two dimensional super grid can be as follows: A) Determine a set of mathematical conditions that describe the electromagnetic fields at the inputs and outputs of the BSG in all modes of operation and wavelengths. B) Calculate an analog profile by solving a system of equations that correspond, for example, to the Born approximation with boundary conditions that correspond to the input-output conditions. C) Scan the analog profile using a two-dimensional technique designed to maintain the Fourier components within one or more regions of interest. A suitable method is the Floyd-Steinberg vibration, where the quantization error elaborated in each pixel is dispersed to pixels yet to be quantified using the finite impulse response function that contains spectral information in one or several regions of interest. The grid synthesis method can be illustrated with reference to a simplified example. Figure 36A shows a simple demoditlexer 36-10 to separate radiation coming from below in waveguide 36-2 and having two wavelengths La and Lb in two output paths 36-4 and 36-6, each with a single wavelength, FIG. 36B shows a single demodiplexer using separate components that perform the same function. The example of Figure 36B uses a prism 3 to separate wavelengths that fall along two trajectories 24 'and 26' (both beams are bent in the same direction). The separate radiation beams are bent back into the correct path to enter the output waveguides 4 and 6 through the prisms 34 and 36. The beams are then focused on the waveguides 4 and 6 by the lenses 34 ' and 36 '.

Figure 36A shows the same functions performed by a modality formed in a flat waveguide by solid state techniques. A distribution of XY pixels (directions indicated by the axis 36-15), indicated by the lines along the left edge and the bottom of the rectangle 36-10 form a BSG that performs the functions of separation of the beams (in this bent case of one wavelength on the left and the other on the right) at angles that vary with distance (angles A1 and A2 and B1 and B2) to provide separation. The angles are inverted in the region indicated by parentheses 36-34 and 36-36, where the pixels make the angular change and also focus the radiation. In the lower portion of rectangle 36-10, the wave fronts are indicated by straight lines in the upper portion, indicated by curved lines representing the result of focusing within the output waveguides 36-4 and 36-6. It will be appreciated that the example of FIG. 36A is simplified to the extent that the pixels in the upper portion only process a single wavelength, since the radiation has been separated in space. In many real modes of a multiplexer, the output paths will be close or overlap and the pixels will be processed at more than one wavelength. An advantageous feature of the invention is that the synthesis of a refractive index profile to perform the required functions is performed mathematically, rather than by illumination of a layer of material by a first interference pattern, then a second pattern. , etc., as was done previously.

With reference to Figure 5, a 2D BSG can be used in applications and devices using 1D 50 super grid or other grid types in order to provide potential advantages. These advantages are based on the fact that the two-dimensional grid as well as the well-defined coupling wave vectors in both grid plane dimensions, and therefore offer direct control over the coupling with radiant modes and therefore the potential of reduced dispersion. The grid 1 D 50, in contrast, often has coupling wave vectors that are poorly defined in the direction perpendicular to the waveguide, due to its narrow width. The "effective one-dimensional grid" that corresponds to a given two-dimensional grid can be considered as the 1-D index profile derived by integration of the 2D grid along lateral lines perpendicular to the one-dimensional guide. This effective 1 D grid has index levels that span a wide range of values between two binary levels and with a sufficiently high side sampling can be almost analog in nature (the number of levels will be 21 for 1 binary side sample). Since analog grids do not suffer from quantification problems, this can be used as a method for a multi-level grating design that still enjoys the robustness and benefits of facilitated fabrication of a physical structure similar to binary. The method can be summarized to include the following stages: Calculate an analog profile as with the previous method. Convert each pixel to a line of binary (or multi-level) pixels placed in the lateral direction perpendicular to a grid axis 1 D so that the average taken along the line closely matches the desired analog value. This set of pixels is preferably limited to maintain certain symmetry properties in order to reduce the coupling to higher modes (with the commitment to limit the number of available side averages). This line can be calculated using the procedure similar to DSM (fed with the desired averaged value or with the desired lateral profile); with a random search optimization method (for small numbers of pixels); or by other methods. The 2D super grid can be implemented in a one-dimensional configuration by first expanding the D-waveguide sufficiently to contain the 2D super grid. The waveguide can extend beyond the area and there is contraction to a smaller size (possibly in a unique way). Additionally, the two waveguides can be expanded in such a 2D grid area (and similarly, they can be contracted on the other side), to create waveguide couplers. 2D super grids also offer reduced dispersion when implemented in conjunction with super grid waveguide couplers. 3D grids (three-dimensional) The BSG can be further extended to three dimensions, where it takes the form of a three-dimensional distribution of high and low index pixels. As in the above, this definition can be expanded to include any number of separate levels. 3D BSG (and more generally the 3D super grid) can emulate an almost arbitrary superposition of k vectors (ie, spatial frequency components) of any magnitude and orientation within one or more regions of interest defined by the 3D spatial frequency . In practical terms, this means that the 3D BSG can route and focus light, according to the wavelength, input angles (ie, polar and azimuthal) and output angles, and thus allow functionalities such as "the described for the two-dimensional grids, but in the three dimensions of the wavelength, polar angle and azimuth angle With reference to figure 6 a schematic of a prototype 3D grid 60 is shown in an optical device that includes a three-dimensional distribution of pixels of index, modulated in terms of effectiveness, index, gain or loss, which nominally uses a finite set of two or more levels of one or more modulated parameters.The pixels can be distributed in any ordered or periodic structure and can use an arbitrary form but repeated.The manufactured form of this device can show a non-binary or even continuous way of modulation levels either by design or because of the technical difficulties associated with making a perfect sample, but pixels are nonetheless inscribed using a finite set of inscription methods or parameters that correspond to the ideal set of levels that return a 3D BSG to the device. Such a device can allow angular and chromatically specific optical processing in addition to emulating traditional optical components such as mirrors and lenses. Synthesis of 3D supergrids The methods for synthesizing 3D supergrids include approaches very similar to those described above for 2D supergrids, except that the equations describe three-dimensional spaces and the quantization method uses a three-dimensional impulse response function to distribute the quantization error . A two-dimensional or three-dimensional super grid can be designed to create a structure that represents complete or incomplete photon band separation (PBG). This can be done by designing a grid with any of the BSG design methods that has spectral characteristics within or near the desired band gap with sufficient intensity and density to create the separation. The synthesis can involve the entire applicable area or can be applied to a smaller scale to create a pattern that can be tiled to cover a larger area. The design can also use higher order synthesis methods to allow reduced resolution requirements. A complete photonic band separation material is one that shows a range of frequencies that can not be propagated through the medium, regardless of the direction of propagation. The applications of such means are numerous and abundant in the literature. Some examples are: optical filters and resonators, inhibitors or enhancers of optical radiation, materials for (super) prisms, novel laser environments and detection structures, and substrates for guidance and optical wiring. The BSG-based photonic band separation offers key advantages over prior art PBG materials, including: lower index contrast requirements and relaxed resolution requirements (both lead to superior compatibility with optical devices and facilitated processing) . Synthesis of the super gratings by optimization. A general method of super grid design is of a one-dimensional, two-dimensional or three-dimensional variety and is presented herein in addition to the methods described in the foregoing: Generate an analog profile with a procedure such as that of the first synthesis method (allow the function is called P). Generate a filter H that determines one or more of the important wavelength intervals (in which the spectral characteristics are conserved) and their weightings. H essentially indicates a weighting for each frequency, where a higher weighting generates a better preservation of the spectral information compared to a low weight. The filter H can be written in the form of a matrix operator to allow the matrix solution of the next stage, but it can also use impulse response or zero pole forms. Solve the optimization problem: where X is a vector that contains the values of the BSG, V is a vector of the Lagrange multipliers and L determines the type of standard for the optimization (L = 2 corresponds to the least squares optimization, for example). Lagrange multipliers force BSG values to one of the allowed index values (n or n or n), which leads to a binary form. The function can be modified to allow multiple-value superglasses, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The optimization can be carried out using any optimization method, although methods of the Newton type are particularly useful and are currently preferred due to the matrix nature of the equation. The approach can be applied to the synthesis of 2D and 3D grids by taking the analog profile generated by the corresponding synthesis method and by performing a similar optimization procedure, with the matrix equation modified for the appropriate account for dimensionality. This can be done by stacking the rows of the two-dimensional grid in a row of variable X, in the same way with the variable P and by synthesizing a corresponding H matrix. An H matrix can be generated as a Toeplitz matrix of a given impulse response function or with other methods including: Assume that hf is a vector representing the importance weight of the spatial frequency f. Then H is given by H = F "diag (/ ¾ > F, where F n dimensional is the Fourier matrix given by: The multiplication by the matrix F is equivalent to taking a Fourier transform of a vector, an operation which can be accelerated using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method. This fact can be used with H filters of this kind to accelerate the calculation of the cost function and its derivative to the order n log (n). Another alternative is to perform the optimization in the Fourier domain by considering the variables both P and X and their Founer representations (generated by multiplying by F) while adequately converting the limitations of equality: P = FP, X = FX This representation can have the advantage of allowing the representations to scatter representations for the vectors P and / or hf which can help reduce the calculation time. Adjustment mechanisms for super grid The spectral characteristics of a super grid can be displaced by any mechanism that produces a change in the effective modal index. This can be carried out if an electro-optical, electro-limiting, magneto-optical, electrochromic or other photosensitive medium is present as part of the device and thus allows one or more of the design parameters to be modified using electronic control. Alternatively, modification of one or more of the design parameters can be carried out using a change in temperature, application of mechanical stress or illumination of either the entire device or a section thereof. The adjustment mechanisms may include, but are not limited to the following: thermal, electro-optical, magneto-optic, opto-limiting, mechanical limiting (external, piece-wise, electrostatic, magnetostatic, acoustic), current injection, Optical lighting, liquid crystal, reconfigurable molecules, chemical interaction and mechanical displacement. For some devices the benefit corresponds to a displacement or change in the strength of the spectral characteristics; for others, functionalities surpass this fusion. In any case, it is implicit through this patent application and in all the device descriptions that follow, the functionality of the devices that use static super grids can be further improved by replacing them with adjustable super grids. Programmable gratings With reference to figures 7a-7d, exemplary modalities of programmable super grids are shown. A programmable super grid is a device that includes, in part, a distribution of electrically addressable electrodes together with a suitable medium, whereby the electrodes are used to establish a grid pattern in the middle. The grid pattern can be programmable, dynamic or fixed. The grid pattern can nominally use a finite number of modulated levels (for example two levels for a BSG, more for a super grid) or use a continuum of modulated levels. Another embodiment (Figure 7a) includes a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) finger distribution 7a2 positioned above one or more waveguides 7a3; wherein each finger corresponds to a "bit" of the BSG and can be individually deviated downward so that it touches the waveguide surface 7a2. Alternatively, the (off) state may correspond to the contact between the finger and a waveguide, with an "on" state that produces deflection up and away from the waveguide. In any case, the state with the waveguide contact will generally provide a higher effective index and that without contact will provide a lower rate. The preferred embodiment has a sufficiently large waveguide gap such that slight errors in this value negligibly change the lower effective index value and thus facilitate true binary operation. In a further embodiment, which is shown in Figure 7b, a plurality of electrodes placed on encapsulated liquid crystals (LC) 7b2 that carry out the propagation are included. In the nematic phase, the LC shows a birefringence that can be adjusted with voltage, which provides a means to adjust the effective index. This voltage dependency typically has a certain threshold voltage Vt (which corresponds to a complete alignment of the nematic LC) above which little or no additional index change occurs. A method that uses control voltages of V = 0 and V > Vt can therefore facilitate true binary operation, even faced with confusing effects such as field refringence. BSG Couplers of Asymmetric Counter-Directional and Counter-Directional Waveguide We will begin by describing two fundamental elements of many of the more complex devices that follow: specifically, the BSG couplers of asymmetric codirectional and counter-directional waveguide. These elements (which can actually be devices by themselves) connect light from one waveguide to another parallel waveguide, with a desired spectral response: that is, light at a given wavelength can be fully coupled, fractionally or not to be coupled in any way, and with a desired phase.

The general modality, figure 7c, includes two parallel asymmetric waveguides which will have different effective modal indices (rieff) and (neff) 2 and thus different propagation vectors k1 (? 0) = 2Tr (neff) i / Ao and k2 (A0) = 2tt (? ß ??) 2 ??, where? 0 is the wavelength in free space. Effective indices in general depend on the wavelength? 0. Signals are applied from electronic drives 7c3 to electrodes indicated by 7c2 that change the modal distribution to induce coupling. The light will be co-directed from one waveguide to another neighboring waveguide if its respective modal profiles overlap; this is known as intrinsic coupling and will generally occur for all input wavelengths. Intrinsic coupling is a parasitic effect in the context of improved BSG coupling and optimal design seeks to ensure that the latter reduces the previous one. This condition becomes easier to satisfy as the waveguide asymmetry increases (i.e., the difference between (neff) iy (neff) 2- BSG Asymmetric Waveguide Co-Directional Coupler With reference to Figure 8, it is shown a schema of the 80-bit co-directional asymmetric waveguide BSG coupler The co-directional coupling of a waveguide 81 to another neighboring waveguide 82 (ie with overlapping modal profiles) will be improved by a particular wavelength? 0 if the Effective waveguide rates are disturbed with spatial frequency kg (A0) = ki (A0) - k2 (A0) This can be carried out using any modality of BSG, which includes possibilities such as, but not limited to, placement of a BSG 83 between two waveguides, as described above, or implement the BSGs laterally in one or both waveguides, also described in the foregoing, The characteristics of arbitrary spectral coupling are obtained by having the BSG 83 that emulates the proper spectrum of kg (A0). Counter-directional asymmetric waveguide BSG coupler Referring to FIG. 9, a schematic of the counter-directional asymmetric waveguide 90G coupler engaging the waveguides 91 and 92 is shown. For the above embodiment, the counter-directional coupling will occur for A given input wavelength A0 if the index disturbance instead of this includes a spatial frequency of kg (A0) = ??) + k2 (Ao). The BSG 93 must be kept free of spatial frequencies of 2ki (A0) and 2k2 (A0) over the entire spectrum band of interest, since this will produce a retroreflection within the respective waveguides and thus decrease the efficiency of coupling and will produce an unwanted retroreflection. Satisfying this condition requires that the waveguide asymmetry be sufficient to avoid any overlap between spatial grid frequencies (kg) that provide coupling between the waveguide and those that provide coupling within the waveguide, especially the interval of wavelength of interest; mathematically this can be expressed as: ki (Ai) + UK,) ¥ = 2ki (A2) .y?,) + k2 (A ¥ = 2k2 (A2) where ki and l¾ are defined above with an effective index that depends of the wavelength, and Ai and? 2 are any combination of wavelengths that fall within the ranges of interest.It will be appreciated that if any of the waveguides is multiple mode, other overlays should be avoided, specifically between the grid frequency range belonging to the desired and unwanted coupling (either co-directional or counter-directional) BSG symmetrical counter-directional waveguide coupler With reference to figure 10, a schematic of the symmetrical waveguide BSG coupler is shown The counter-directional BSG symmetrical coupler performs the same functions as the asymmetric counter-directional coupler (programmable, dynamic or static) but allows the two waveguides to be weakly asymmetric or even symmetric in its effective index. In this way the limits expressed in the previous expression can be exceeded, although this usually leads to a reflection within the waveguide. The method indicated in the following allows efficient coupling between neighboring symmetric waveguides and at the same time suppresses reflection within the waveguide. The device includes two waveguides (symmetrical or otherwise) with a BSG 612 placed between them. The BSG can be static, adjustable or programmable as needed. Two or more BSG 611 and 622 identical to the average BSG but with opposite contrast (the 1 becomes 0 and vice versa) of the two waveguides are positioned on either side in such a way that they reflect the BSG center around the guide of corresponding wave. The principle of operation is as follows: suppose that my is the modal profile of the guide 1 and m2 is the modal profile of the guide 2. With free notation, the coupling coefficients in relation to the two waveguides can be written for a first order in grid force like: where G- | 2 is the grid center and Gn and G22 are the grids on the sides away from the waveguides 1 and 2, respectively. The second term is negligible because the two lateral grids are far away from the opposite waveguide (more precisely, the modal profile of the opposite waveguide is negligible in this region). However, the coupling coefficient from the first waveguide itself (corresponding to reflection within the waveguide) is as follows: Cn oc JlíBiptru + JfKi | 2 < ? i2 * = 0 (because G ^ = - < ¾2 and symmetry) The result is identical for the second waveguide. The only assumption necessary for cancellation is that the modal profiles of both waveguides are substantively symmetric (around the waveguide, not necessarily identical to each other, it will be appreciated that the waveguide coupling will generally introduce at least some element of asymmetry) and that the grids can be appropriately symmetrized around the guide. Cancellation is independent of many material parameters such as effective waveguide rates even if they vary independently. BSG couplers using side waveguide variations This particular embodiment of a BSG receives special mention here because of its particular advantages, as well as certain anticipated additional underlying concepts which will be discussed later such as optimal width variation for guide coupling Asymmetric waveguide, with particular consideration to the relative BSG force in each waveguide, and how to design the inverse contrast grid of the asymmetric waveguide coupler so that reflection within the waveguide is minimized. The advantages of this modality are similar to those described above, differentiated by the fact that there are now two (or more) waveguides, where the waveguide alignment is critical. It will be appreciated that waveguides and BSGs can be advantageously distributed in a pattern and can be recorded together, whereby fabrication is simplified. In addition, waveguides and grids auto-align automatically, facilitating tolerant.

Cross-bar switch BSG With reference to Figure 11, a cross-grid cross-grid scheme of grid topology is shown. The crossbar switch is a device that directs the wavelength channels of a number of input waveguides to a number of output channels (usually matching the number of input waveguides). The crossbar switch generally needs to be able to direct any wavelength from any input waveguide to any output waveguide. These switches are typically indicated by a notation N x N, where N represents the product of the number of input / output waveguides and the number of wavelength channels; for example, a switch with 4 input waveguides, 4 output waveguides, and 16 wavelength channels per waveguide is called a 64x64 interface. Traditional crossbar switches use a grid topology where each of the N input waveguides first is demultiplexed into its c wavelength channels, resulting in nxc "row" input intersecting with nxc "columns" output. These columns are then multiplexed into groups supplied within the n output waveguides. In routing it is produced by means of an optical switch placed at each intersection of row and column. This design is especially common with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), where the switches are implemented using movable mirrors.

Clearly, this topology requires (nxc) 2 switching elements. Another topology can use 2x2 switches, that is, switching elements with two inputs (e) and two outputs (Oi and 02); where either of them connects Oi to l2 to 02, or I1 to 02 and I2 to 0- |. The problem lies in selecting the distribution and number of switches so that the optical input signals can be redistributed to all possible permutations in the output. To determine the number of necessary switches we need to indicate that there are (nxc)! possible permutations of the entries; since each 2x2 switch provides a control bit, we can say that: 0 (log2 (nc)!) = 0 ((nc) log2 (nc)) It will be appreciated that a programmable BSG (ie, a codirectional coupler) can be used. or adjustable counter-directional as described above) to form the 2x2 switch. In this way, each switch element BSG can provide the 2x2 functionality independently for each input wavelength. Advantageously, this eliminates the need to first demultiplex the introduced waveguides and reduces the number of required switches: number of switching elements = 0 (nlog2n) where n is the number of input waveguides only, without leaving dependence on the number of channels c wavelength (see Figure 12, which shows a scheme of one mode for a switch of 4 fibers, using 6 elements 120 switches). Another modality can use stratified BSG 2x2 switch elements, where each layer has the same number of switching elements that is equal to n / 2, where n represents the number of input waveguides, each with c wavelength channels . In this mode, the switches can be connected to each other in the following way: Suppose that the waveguide w is connected to the waveguide w + 21"1, where I is the number of layers (starting from 1). When 2 '= n, the previous formula is used when setting I = 1 again wrap back.) This is only a particular wiring method and many more can be conceived, especially when drawing from the prior art in a three-design binary switches The number of switching elements used by a design of this class is given by: number of switching elementswhere the ceil function generates the smallest integer that is greater than its argument. It will be appreciated that the savings generated by this design method can be enormous and are illustrated in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Although the number of switching elements in the super grid case is given by the previous formula, the number of switches in the matching design is specified by en2, while the number of single wavelength switches in the stratified design is given by c multiplied by the number of switching elements in the BSG design. In addition, the modalities using the programmable BSGs avoid the need for multiplexers and demultiplexers, further increasing the savings. The single wavelength design can also be implemented with co-directional and counterdirectional couplers that use Bragg grids instead of BSGs. Direct writing of fiber optic BSGs The following sections describe methods of implementing BSGs in an optical fiber whose effective modal index or index can be altered via exposure to intense or high-energy laser light. Process of a photon With reference to Figure 13, the photon method of implementing a BSG in an optical fiber is shown. In this mode, a grid that uses binary or multi-level characteristics (index or effective index change, deletion, loss of modulation, etc.), is printed on a photosensitive optical fiber 13-1 by means of a beam 13-10 switchable focused laser that directly prints the grid information on the fiber as it moves with respect to the laser focus, as indicated by the arrow, either at constant or variable speed. In an alternative mode, the fiber is stationary and the laser focus is manipulated to scan the fiber. Multiple photon process With reference to figure 14, a multiple photon device 140 (two photons are shown here) which imply a BSG in the optical fiber is shown. A method similar to the previous one, with the exception of that where two or more laser beams 144, 145 are used for the process, and the information is printed preferentially (i.e., it is moved in the index) where a subset of these beams intersect 143 or interfere constructively. It will be appreciated that this modality offers advantages over the underlying photosensitivity mechanism which is intensity dependent or energy dependent. In the first case, the constructive interference of N beams (of equal amplitude) provides N2 times the intensity of a single beam; in the latter, the adjustment can be distributed so that the added photonic energy is sufficient to carry out the transition in matters that exist only where the beams intersect.

This mode allows for increased control over the region within the fiber on which information is printed (for example, the index can be altered only in kernel 141 without the beams being made to intersect here) and can also simplify manufacturing in the extent that the coating does not necessarily have to be refined, as is required for a single photon process. The following describes alternative embodiments of the present discloses alternative embodiments of the present invention that utilize some combination of super gratings and the modular elements of the previous section. It will be appreciated that any BSG mentioned herein can be replaced by a more general multiple-level super grid pattern, which in turn can be replaced by adjustable or programmable modes according to the teachings of the present invention. Wavelength demultiplexer A demultiplexer separates a multiple wavelength (ie, a multiple channel) input into its constituent channels. This demodiplexing functionality can be obtained by using the BSGs in a variety of embodiments described in greater detail in the following. The multi-level superglasses according to the teachings of the present invention are also suitable for demultiplexers and filters with non-uniform channel spacing (or with any other channel separation scheme). It will be recognized that an advantage of such demuitiplexing mode of the present invention advantageously reduces problems such as SRS (stimulated Raman scattering)., which is constituted when the channels are separated equally in terms of photonic frequency (energy). Demultiplexer that uses supercompasses 1 D With reference to figure 15, a diagram of a demultiplexer using BSG 1D is shown. This device includes, in part, a set of coupled waveguides using BSG counter-directional or co-directional couplers 15-1-15-3, as described above, with the effect that multiple wavelength light entering the The device through a specified input port is divided into its wavelength components which leave the device through its assigned output ports. Particular modalities include: a cascade of codirectional and counter-directional BSGs which successively divide the channels into two secondary bands until the individual channels are extracted; and a sequence of the inclined single channel grids direct individual channels to their respective output waveguide. Demultiplexer using 2D super-squares This mode, shown in Figure 16, includes a 2D BSG with the effect that the multiple wavelength light that enters the device through a specified input port is divided into its components. wavelength, which leaves the device through its assigned output waveguides.

Add / Drop Filters In this embodiment, an optical drop / add filter, as shown in Figure 17, is an optical device 170 that includes an "input" port 171, which accepts a channel input of length of multiple wave; a "drop" port 172 through which one or more separate channels of the "inlet" stream are routed; and a port 174"through", from which the remaining channels arise. An additional "add-on" port may also be present, which accepts inputs in wavelength channels that are lowered from the "input" stream and routed to the "through" output. Static drop / add filter With reference to Figure 18, there is shown an optical device embodiment of the present invention that includes one or more 2D BSG or a set of coupled waveguides using counter-directional or codirectional BSG couplers. In this embodiment, one or more wavelength components of light entering the device through a specified input port 181 ("inlet") is separated and leaves the device through an output port 184 ("downstream"). "), the rest of the input light leaves the device through a different output port (" through "). In addition, the device may include an additional input ("add-on") port 183 with the property that particular components, or all wavelength components that enter the device through said port, also leave through the port. 182"through" and in this way are added to the light routed there from the "entry" port. Still with reference to Fig. 18, the BSG 1 couples a subset of inputs? from a waveguide A to a waveguide B. BSG 2 couples a subset of the first subset of B to C. This process continues until only one or more of the desired lengths remain in the downlink waveguide (DROP). . It will be appreciated that BSG-and BSG-2 can be tuned to select one? desired over a range which exceeds an intrinsic tuning or tuning interval? /? ~ ?? / ?. It will also be appreciated that in alternative modes a counter-directional coupling can be used. In this mode, port 183 adder can become selective to? through a similar Vernier approach. Adding / dynamic lowering filter With reference to Figure 19, there is shown an optical device mode 190 that includes one or more 2D BSG or a set of waveguides, wherein the waveguides are coupled using counter-directional or codirectional BSG couplers adjustable or fixed with the same effective functionality as the static BSG downlink / add filter, but with the addition that one or more of the wavelengths directed from the "input" port to the "down" port or one or several of the wavelengths directed from the "adder" port to the "through" port are controllable by means of external control signals.

A particular modality makes use of the Vernier tuning or tuning principle, with a design motivated by the fact that the spectral displacements accessible through the index adjustment are often much smaller than the total desired adjustment range. The input of multiple channels enters along a waveguide, with light coupled to an adjacent waveguide by means of an adjustable BSG of multiple peaks (with a peak separation generally lower than the available adjustment range). A subsequent adjustable BSG (generally of multiple peaks with a different spacing which is also smaller than the available setting range) couples a subset of this first set of channels to a third waveguide. This decimation procedure may continue as desired, with the BSGs set independently in relation to each other to one or more of the desired downstream channels. The channel selection interval in this manner can greatly exceed the adjusted spectral shift of the available index. The same set of BSGs can be used to add drop channels from a second input, as shown in Figure 18. Another embodiment uses a programmable BSG, which enables a structure such as that shown in Figure 19 that can be added and dynamically lowered with any subset of input channels. Wavelength stability monitoring To work properly, optical networks require that the channel wavelengths remain within a certain range of their nominal value. Bypass can be caused by many factors including variations in environmental conditions, aging of the device and mechanical interruptions. The wavelength drift can be monitored using a 1D super grid according to the teachings of the present invention, as shown in Figure 20a. Although the incident light at a given input angle on an inclined grid 1D 20a3 will nominally diffract only at a particular output angle, the tuning or tuning loss of a central peak reflectance wavelength will in fact generate a lack of adjustment in angle, together with a decrease in diffraction efficiency. This behavior can be used to detect deviations in wavelength or, assuming that the wavelength is true, displacements in the characteristics of the device which can then be compensated through a variety of mechanisms (for example temperature adjustment). In one embodiment, a symmetrically aligned photodetector distribution 20a4 may be used along the diffraction path 20a2 of the desired central wavelength to detect the wavelength shift; in this configuration, the signal of each one will coincide if the local wavelength coincides with the desired value (note that the diffraction efficiency will normally be intentionally low, so that most of the power passes through it without deviation ). Deviations in the local wavelength is then manifested by a change in the relative values of the photodetectors 20a4, which can be monitored by passing their outputs through a logarithmic subtraction processor 20a5 (other, more sensitive functions can be used ). These deviations can then be corrected for use of temperature or any other parameter that produces alterations. Similarly, an alternative embodiment with a 2D BSG 20b4 can be implemented as shown in Figure 20b, which can focus diffracted light on the detectors 20b3 and / or detect wavelength drifts on several channels simultaneously; or with a sequence of characteristics 20c3 almost 1D (ie, point-source) recorded along a waveguide 20c2, as shown in Figure 20c (detection and processing are performed in units 20c3 and 20c4), which will lead to symmetrical diffraction in both lateral directions. Optionally, a mirror can be engraved on one side, for optimal collection of scattered light. Branch network monitor To dynamically reconfigure channel allocations ("wavelength supply"), a network requires feedback on the use of a channel; such reconfiguration capability is particularly necessary for metropolitan optical networks (MON). The monitoring of the network can be carried out using 1-D or 2-D superframes according to the teachings of the present invention (Figure 21 shows a 2D network monitor mode) to derive a portion (typically small by design). ) of entrance light and separate it into individual channels. The separate channels then focus on a detector array 212, where its power is measured and the information s converted into a single electrical signal. This signal can be processed by the processor 214 and transmitted to a monitoring station (not shown) in a metropolitan network along an electrical network, and provides diagnostic data that facilitate the delivery of wavelength; or that help in the identification of problems in the network (for example they show in which part a channel is losing energy); in compilation of load statistics and fault tolerance measurement. Multiple Wavelength Equalizer and Gain Flattening Filters For optimum performance, optical networks generally require wavelength channels to be balanced in energy. In equilibrium it typically occurs either within or after the amplification step, and is correspondingly termed "gain flattening" or "equalization" respectively. Additionally, an energy balancing device can serve to suppress unwanted signals such as the pump wavelength in optical amplifiers. Dynamic multi-wavelength equalizer. In this equalizer mode, dynamic equalization can be carried out by routing input wavelengths through a bypass network monitor (Figure 22A) that separates channels and monitors from their respective power levels (see Figure 22B). , which shows an energy curve versus wavelength). The signals are then transmitted to an electronic processor, whose output adjusts (or programs) a BSG sequence according to the teachings of the present invention, which equalizes the channels through energy, for example by eliminating energy in various bands. of wavelength. Figure 22C shows an example of energy removed as a function of wavelength. Suitable methods for counting wavelength energy include the use of BSGs to couple input channels to an output waveguide with lower efficiency or use of BSGs to impose higher dispersion losses. Figure 22D shows the result of subtracting appropriate amounts of energy in a set of wavelength bands and in this way a substantially equal energy is produced in each band, One mode uses a cascade of BSGs that includes "base functions" which can be independently adjusted to carry out the loss spectrum required for equalization; Suitable base functions include spectra similar to stages that can be displaced relative to one another. Flattened gain optical amplifiers Figures 23A-23D illustrate an alternative mode of channel balancing. In this embodiment, a BSG 23-1 (FIG. 23A) is incorporated directly into the amplifier which serves to shape the gain spectrum as desired. The gain spectrum (shown unaltered in Figure 23B) can be flattened or adapted to any other profile, perhaps in anticipation of wavelength dependent losses subsequent to amplification. Figure 23C shows a loss coefficient spectrum that matches the gain spectrum of Figure 23B. Figure 23D shows the spectrum of combined gain coefficient, which combines the gain of the medium and the losses imposed on it. It will be appreciated that this mode offers much greater efficiency compared to the post-amplifier equalization, which follows from the recognition that the flattening of the gain coefficient (the gain per unit length within the amplifier) wastes much less energy than the flattened after the gain amplification. The gain flattening, according to the teachings of the present invention, can be applied to any optical amplifier, including Raman amplifiers, fiber amplifiers with erbium impurities (EDFA) and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA); as well as multiple wavelength sources such as adjustable lasers. It will be appreciated that the gain flattening not only improves efficiency but can also dramatically extend the bandwidth of the amplifier, particularly when the intrinsic gain spectrum is strongly peaking. This is especially true with semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA), whose bandwidth is so narrow that they provide gain only for a very small amount of channels (often only one). Lambda Router Lambda Routers - also known as so-called wavelength routers, or optical cross-connections are devices that are placed at network junctions with one or more path wavelengths from a specific fiber optic input to another specific fiber optic output. Lambda routers are generally NxN devices (that is, with N input fibers and N output fibers), with each input fiber typically carrying a single wavelength channel. In a lambda routing mode of the present invention, lambda routing can be carried out by coupling the demultiplexed input from a BSG-based device into a waveguide distribution, as shown in FIGS. 24a and 24b (FIG. say, one channel per waveguide). It will be appreciated that Figures 24a-24b depict lambda routers when there is an input / output fiber and crossbar switches when there are multiple input and output fibers. A second waveguide distribution exists below the first set, with each pair of upper waveguides and lower waveguides separated by a BSG with a spectrum with the flat top centered on the channel wavelength (ie, codirectional or counter-directional coupling). The crossbar operation (ie, the channel light in one waveguide will be coupled with the other and vice versa, or it will remain in the same waveguide) is obtained by locally adjusting the BSGs in or out of alignment with the length channel wave. It will be appreciated that the add / drop functionality is an interconstructed aspect in this mode. In Figure 24b, a grid topology router accepts a muitiplexed entry on the left side, which has more than the wavelength incident on a channel in a lower waveguide. At each intersection, a stepband BSG couples wavelengths in a particular channel to the waveguides in a top waveguide, which runs vertically in the drawing. The result is that hj (lambda of wavelength that enters the very first guide and that has a wavelength for the jesimoj channel is associated with radiation from the same channel that comes from other inputs. Figure 24A, which has the same topology as that shown in Figure 12, is a more efficient distribution to obtain the same result Dispersion-Slope Compensator Optical networks are generally built with a property known as dispersion, especially when distances are involved of large transmission and high bit rates.The dispersion arises from the dependence of the wavelength of the effective index, which in turn produces a group delay spectrum that depends on the wavelength for a given type and a length of optical fiber The spectrum of an optical pulse is necessarily finite (ie, different from zero) in its width; therefore the dispersion is dispersed as a pulse as it travels along a fiber, because its various wavelength components will travel at slightly different speeds. Dispersion compensation can be obtained by "pulsations" of a Bragg grating: by modulating the pulsations of the grating along its length z, as shown in Figures 25A-25D. Figure 25A shows a mode in which the pulsed grid is associated with a circulator. The radiation is directed into the grid, processed and returned to the circulator. Figure 25B shows a transmissive fiber design. Figure 25C shows a counter-directional BSG in which the grid that couples the two fibers also performs the pulsation. Figure 25D shows a codirectional design. These designs produce a wavelength-dependent phase spectrum which may be suitable to provide the group delay spectrum that is desired: Tg = -d < t > / dco. The delay for a given wavelength? 0 of free space then follows from the round-trip distance where the local passage has? 0 as its wavelength Bragg: Tg (A0) = 2neefZ (Ao), in where? (? 0) is the spatial coordinate in which? (?) = A dispersion mode of the present invention begins by determining the ideal input (analog) pulse function, as derived from the group delay spectrum t9 (? 0) (delay imposed per grid which must of course be opposite to that of the entrance). The ideal analog profile is then fed into a quantization filter which produces a binary profile that emulates the phase characteristics that are desired. The quantization filter can be further optimized for a minimum phase noise. The alternative dispersion modalities are based more directly on the delay spectrum of the desired group. It will be appreciated that a variety of these types of modalities are possible. One mode includes a three-port circulator (light enters port I, output at port i + 1, with port 3"wrapped around" to port 1) that directs the light input to port 1 to a guide wave via port 2. A reflective BSG, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in the waveguide performs the desired compensating group delay spectrum, and thus directs the compensated light in its return scatter to port 2 of the circulator, after which it emerges in port 3 of exit. Figures 26a and 26b show an alternative mode that avoids the need for (and costs for) a circulator that uses BSG co-directional and / or counter-directional couplers, which couple the light from an input waveguide to one or more subsequent waveguides so that they impose the group delay spectrum that is desired. Depending on factors such as the compensation bandwidth, the temporal scope of the group delay spectrum and whether the compensation is full band or channelized, the propagation length within the device may exceed the maximum desired device size. In this case, the dispersion compensation can be carried out on successive waveguide couplings, with coupled waveguides distributed in a winding cascade. It will be appreciated that the BSG-based dispersion compensator modalities offer many advantages such as emulating the complicated pulse functions in a simpler way than current methods (current methods take successive terms in a Taylor expansion of the dispersion characteristics). u obtain a "best fit" for the ideal delay spectrum using relatively few input parameters). Modes using BSG devices according to the teachings of the present invention can also provide dispersion compensation individually adapted to multiple simultaneous channels, which provides an improvement over the solutions, which imposes the same correction across all channels. In addition, in contrast to some pulsed gate approaches, embodiments using BSG devices in accordance with the teachings of the present invention can be designed to provide a flat channel reflectance spectrum. Adjustable Dispersion Compensator Adjustable dispersion compensation can be obtained through a distribution that has some similarity to a combination of the cascade of the codirectional and counter-directional BSGs described above, and the Vernier adjustment method described above, together with the equalizer of dynamic multiple wavelength, also described above. With reference to Figure 26a, the BSG cascade includes "base functions" of group delay which can be set independently in relation to one another to carry out the group delay spectrum that is desired. One modality, illustrated in Figure 26b, uses two adjustable counter-directional BSG couplers, each implementing quadratic dispersion functions Di and D2, with the functional forms: D1 = a ^ A -? 2 + Ci and D2 = a2 (A -? 2) 2 + C2) where the central wavelengths Ai and? 2 can be independently displaced through an adjustment mechanism such as that indicated above. If the BSGs are cascaded and designed with a2 = -a-i, the resulting dispersion is: Dnet = Di + D2 = [2ai (A2 + K,)} ? + [(- A22) + (d - C2)], which can be rewritten in terms of ?? = A2 - Ai: Dnet = [2a-i (AA) j? + [(2 ?? + ??) (2K, - ??) + (d - C2)] In this way, you can adjust the slope of Dispersion 2a-i (AA) as desired by appropriate selection of ??, and the intersection is established by appropriately adjusting Ai. This approach can be applied to arbitrarily high dispersion orders by using the dispersion base functions of the next highest order. Variable feedback variable grating laser (adjustable and / or multiple wavelength) Referring to FIGS. 27a-27c, variable feedback super grating lasers are shown. In these embodiments, the programmable BSG is combined with an optical gain means to produce an adjustable laser with single wavelength operation or multiple wavelength. In Figure 27A, two programmable BSGs can create resonance at one or more wavelengths. In Figure 27B a programmable BSG performs the grid function within the gain means and can control the output spectrum and also its energy distribution. In FIG. 27C, the programmable BSGs can change the wavelength and also the angle, so that the wavelength and also the phase of the output radiation can be controlled. It will be appreciated that any configuration using grids as feedback elements, including but not limited to DBR, DFB, alpha-laser and ring oscillator configurations, may be retro-adjusted by replacing part or all of one or more elements diffraction patterns in the traditional design with programmable BSGs, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. For a single wavelength laser mode, the BSG-based device can control the position of the laser line, its line width and / or its force. In addition, it can be combined with the monitoring of the above parameters (directly or indirectly, for example through temperature, current or voltage) to form a feedback system to control one or more of these same parameters. The design of the BSGs (or "program") can be altered in a configuration that is otherwise similar to produce a multiple wavelength laser, offering independent control for each of the various laser wavelengths or selection. of a single wavelength. The laser transmission channels can be adjusted, added and subjected to descent or descent independently, and the relative output energy can be balanced as desired. As described in the above, a monitor can be added to form a feedback loop to control any of these parameters. Beam Combinator (Beam Splitter Inversion) A beam combiner as a mode, in the manner shown in Figures 28A-28B, accepts input from one or more sources and directs them to a common output. In Figure 28A the successive BSG couplers add energy in one or more wavelengths to the energy flowing from the left to the right in the horizontal waveguide. In Figure 28B, a two-dimensional BSG accepts three inputs and directs the radiation outward, along the waveguide. Applications include combining the energy of multiple lasers (referred to as the "energy combiner" in this context) as it does, for example, with Raman amplifiers to obtain sufficient pumping energy. It would be especially attractive in this case to integrate such a device directly with a semiconductor laser distribution; The BSG is very suitable for this purpose. A variety of modalities are possible, including a certain combination of one or more BSG couplers and 2D superglasses to combine multiple beams (possibly of the same wavelength) into one. In the case of the 2D super grid, this essentially corresponds to the inversion of the division of an input into multiple output beams. Multi-Wavelength / Wideband Isolator / Circulator Optical isolators are devices that block the passage of one or more wavelengths along a waveguide, in one or both directions. They are used to suppress retroreflection, crosstalk and / or bands of unwanted wavelength (eg pump wavelengths). A circulator is an N-port device which routes the light input at the port to the port (i + 1) with input to port N "wrapped around" to port 1 and is often used together with optical devices with an output that arises from the input port (for example certain modalities of optical delay lines, dispersion compensators and lambda routers). Figures 29A and 29B-29C show schemes of an insulator mode based on BSG and a 4-port coupled waveguide circulator, respectively. Both insulators and circulators use some means of subverting the inverse time symmetry: that is, light approaching the device from one direction is treated differently from light approaching from the opposite direction. This is typically obtained using magneto-optical and / or optically active materials (such as a Faraday rotator) together with birefringent and / or polarizing elements. For example, Figure 29A shows an insulator in which, the radiation that enters from the left passes through a polarizer, and then through a Faraday rotator that rotates the polarization by 45 degrees, which passes through the a second polarizer. The radiation that enters from the left is polarized, rotated by the rotator and then blocked by the second polarizer. Figure 29B shows an example of a circulator, in which the radiation entering from the right in port 1 is rotated by the rotator (for example 45 degrees) is reflected back from port 3, is rotated again and it passes through the divider to port 2. Figure 29C shows an example of a rotator that can be used with the previous apparatus or with other apparatuses. The radiation enters from the left on the upper waveguide, is coupled to the lower waveguide by a BSG coupler in the presence of a Faraday material and therefore also rotates in polarization. The superglasses, according to the teachings of the present invention, can be combined with magneto-optical materials and / or polarizing elements to produce insulators and circulators that offer a selective wavelength operation over preselected channels, or over one or several broad bands of wavelengths. Photonic band separation materials BSG An important advance in optical theory in recent decades is the concept of photonic band separation (PBG). The awareness that two-dimensional or three-dimensional periodic modulation of a refractive index of a material can generate optical wavelength ranges in which light can not be propagated regardless of direction, has proven to be fruitful in its application. Applications include micro-point lasers, abrupt waveguide turns, optical filters with high Q and selective wavelength optical couplers. However, the PBG is essentially a two-dimensional or three-dimensional extension of the Bragg grid. The concept of BSG, as an extension of the Bragg grid within the wavelength space can be combined with the PBG to create a completely new set of optical materials. A highly advantageous feature of the BSG-PBG materials may well be their separation from the high refractive index contrasts required by conventional PBG materials. Constituted as a periodic grid of characteristics of refractive index, conventional PBGs show different periodicity in different directions. Therefore, each direction is characterized by a different effective Bragg grid, and each in turn is associated with a particular band separation - a range of wavelengths prohibited from propagating in that direction as a result of the grid. The width of this wavelength separation is directly proportional to the strength of the effective grid, which in turn corresponds to the refractive index contrast of the PBGs. However, to prohibit propagation for a particular wavelength for all directions, and thus to conform the "full" band separation which defines the PBG, all of the individual wavelength separations must overlap the length of the wave in question, and in this way, as those skilled in the art know, a minimum refractive index contrast is imposed for the PBG. Figures 37A-37B show (Figure 37A) a hexagonal distribution of points representing different refractive index regions. Figure 37B shows a corresponding hexagon in the wave number space. Those skilled in the art will be aware that the usual materials that show the effect of PBG have a regular geometric distribution that produces an outline in the wave number space. For example, in Figure 37B, the hexagonal distribution of the points in Figure 37A is reflected in a hexagon in space k. In order to suppress the propagation of radiation (of certain wavelength represented by the circle with broken lines) in all directions, therefore, the thickness of the hexagon in space k must be such that the circle representing the length of Relevant wave can be inscribed within the band separation hexagon. This requirement imposes a requirement for a suppression of unnecessary band separation. For example, the regions at the outer corners of the hexagon in Figure 37B are not necessary, since the broken line is at the inner corners. Similarly, the regions in the centers of the sides are not necessary because the dashed line is on the outer edge in that area. Unlike conventional PBGs, BSGs are not limited to a periodic grid and its directional variation involved in periodicity. Instead, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional BSG can be designed to show an almost arbitrary band of effective periodicity in any direction. This corresponds directly to a control of the one-dimensional BSG on its diffraction spectrum. This design freedom eliminates the fact of relying on the refractive index contrast of the grid to swell the individual band separations until they overlap. Instead, the index shift pattern can be adjusted geometrically to reinforce the refractive index patterns of the band separations that cause superposition in the first place. Any additional force provided by the available index contrast can then be applied to subject more wavelengths to the effect of the PBGs. Figures 38A to 38B show a non-periodic distribution of pixels (Figure 38A) that provide suppression of transmission in a particular wavelength range in any direction, in a more economical use of resources. The angular dependence of the pixel pattern is established so that the dashed line (the same dashed line as in Figures 37A-37B) is joined by a smaller uniform margin. If desired, the margin in Figure 38B can be increased to cover a longer wavelength range. Thus, for a given index modulation technique (e.g., ion implantation), a BSG-PBG material can exclude a larger wavelength range compared to conventional PBG materials. further, the new materials according to the invention can exclude, in the same area, radiation in a first wavelength range and manipulate the radiation in one or more different wavelength ranges - for example, excluding the pump radiation while they deflect, focus, etc., radiation in a band of wavelength generated. The remarkable reduction in the necessary refractive index contrast provided by the synthesis of the BSG-PBG can actually solve a greater practical challenge in the manufacture of PBG. However, this reduction has a certain cost: a smaller contrast grid also implies a larger required interaction length through which the grid affects the light. This is also true for PBG, however, and although the effect may be an important consideration for certain applications, it can be mitigated, overcome or even proven to be beneficial for many others. The BSG can do more than simply improve the materialization of the PBG implementation. For example, the BSG enables materials that show several photonic band separations, which come directly from the ability to emulate several superimposed grids which inspire our first explorations. Such materials can be useful in many applications, mainly those that use various optical wavelengths, such as systems with separate wavelengths of both pumping and signal, as well as wavelength converters. More generally, the BSG allows complete control over the optical band structure, which includes the width and position of the band separations as well as the optical density of the states and the dispersion relation. Figure 39 shows a cross section of a high efficiency solar cell or other photodetector using a PBG material, according to the invention. The substrate 39-10 is a conventional material showing the photoelectric effect, for example silicon. Layer 39-20 is a material that usually allows the propagation of light of the relevant wavelength. According to the invention, a BSG-PBG pattern has been printed on the material 39-20, so that propagation in the transverse direction indicated by arrow 39-17 is suppressed. The radiation that would otherwise propagate transversely is then dispersed by the BSG-PBG pattern and preferentially displaced upwardly dispersing with a vertical component (e.g., according to arrow 39-15). In this way a larger fraction of incident radiation is absorbed by the photoelectric material 39-10. Figure 40 shows a distribution of PBG 40.1 material distributed in a usual pattern. Two points of the pattern, 40-2 have been removed, establishing a pair of micropoint lasers (conventional pump radiation is omitted for clarity). Since many micro-point lasers can be distributed as desired in any desired geometric distribution. Figure 41 shows a top view of a BSG-PBG material 41- 5 that excludes radiation in a relevant wavelength range. The BSG pattern does not extend to waveguide 41-10, which therefore allows the passage of radiation in said wavelength range. A curve having a radius of curvature R, smaller than the conventional limit, which is referred to as a reference value, has been formed in the waveguide. Those skilled in the art will be aware that a conventional material may have an excessive amount of dispersion as it passes through a curve with a radius of curvature less than the reference value. The BSG-PBG material allows the formation of a waveguide with reduced losses. Figure 42 illustrates a pair of waveguides 42-10 and 42-12 formed in a material 42-5 BSG-PBG. As an optional feature, the area 42-25 between the two waveguides has been provided with a material 42- 25 BSG-PBG having a longer attenuation length at the wavelength that is transmitted by waveguides 42-10 and 42-12. In this way the coupling between the waveguides is facilitated. The different material is not necessary, and the same material can be used, with an appropriate separation between the waveguides (or the BSG-PBG material can be omitted between the waveguides). As an additional option, the general PBG supply can be supplied and a PBG can be placed between waveguides 42-10 and 42-12. The material between the two waveguides can be fabricated to allow coupling between waveguides, for example by structuring the PBG pattern in such a way that propagation parallel to the waveguides is not allowed, but allows propagation (that is, the coupling) between the waveguides. The above is an example of a directional PBG material which means a material having a pixel pattern that suppresses propagation within a wavelength band in selected directions. Figure 43 illustrates a top view of a unit using a non-linear effect. Rectangle 43-05 represents an area of a material that shows a nonlinear effect and that is also printed with a PBG pattern that suppresses propagation in wavelengths? - ?,? 2 and? 3. In the example that is illustrated, ?? and K2 are pump wavelengths, which propagate along waveguides 43-10 and 43-15, respectively, and? 3 is the output wavelength of the relevant non-linear interaction, which propagates to along the 43-20 output waveguide. The initial section of waveguide 43-20 is an optional waveguide in this device that can be used, for example, to supply input radiation in K3 to which the result of the non-linear interaction will be added. The radiation in ?? and? 2 is combined in the superposition area to generate? 3 radiation, as is known in the art. The PBG pattern outside the waveguides confines the radiation. Within section 43-12 of waveguide 43-20, a 43.26 pixel pattern focuses the output radiation at a point, as shown. Section 43-25 of the waveguide 43-20 reflects the radiation at the output wavelength, so that it is directed as required (upwards in the drawing) and not wasted. If desired, or if required by limited resources, the PBG pattern on the left, indicated by 43-07, can be adjusted to confine the radiation from ?? and the pattern on the right, indicated by 43-06, can be set to confine the radiation of? 2, where radiation? 3 is confined only by the pattern in area 43-12. In this way, the (limited) capabilities of the PBG pattern can be reversed for use only when required. It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications and variations which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - An optical device comprising at least two waveguides in at least one propagation layer of grid material, the first of the waveguides being adapted to transport input radiation from a first input port to output radiation which leaves from a first outlet port, and the second of the waveguides transports incoming radiation from a second input port to output radiation that leaves from a second outlet port, and a one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid (binary) in a modulation layer of grid material for coupling the incoming radiation propagating from one of the first and second input ports along a waveguide corresponding to the other of the first and second waveguides. 2. - The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid engages radiation entering the first waveguide that travels in a first direction to the second waveguide that moves in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction. 3. The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid engages input radiation in the first waveguide that moves the second waveguide in a first direction, moving in a substantially opposite second direction. to the first address. 4. - The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first and second waveguides are symmetrical and the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid comprises a central portion between the first and second waveguides having a first high-value pattern and low refractive index and a first and second outer portions having a second pattern of high and low values of refractive index that have the opposite direction to the first pattern, whereby the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid removes the reflection back in the first and second waveguides. 5. - The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the two-dimensional super grid comprises a distribution of controllable means, responding to a set of control signals, to alter the value of modal refractive index in corresponding pixels in the distribution , in at least two modes including a first mode in which the device couples input radiation in the first waveguide that travels in a first direction to the second waveguide that moves in a second direction substantially parallel to the first direction, and a second mode in which the device couples input radiation into the first waveguide that travels in a first direction to a second waveguide that moves in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction. 6. - The device according to claim 5, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid comprises a distribution of controllable means that respond to a set of control signals that are adapted to switch radiation of any of N different wavelengths between the first and second waveguides in the first and second modes, in response to the corresponding values of the control signal, whereby the device can be controlled to pass radiation at any one of N wavelengths from any of the input ports to any of the output ports and in this way form a 2x2 super grid coupler that depends on the wavelength. 7. - The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid comprises a distribution of controllable means, which respond to a set of control signals, to alter the index of refraction value in the corresponding pixels in the distribution, in at least two modes including a first mode in which the device couples input radiation in the first waveguide to the second waveguide, and a second mode in which the device couples the input radiation in the second waveguide to the first waveguide. 8. - The device according to claim 7, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid comprises a distribution of a controllable means that responds to a set of control signals that are adapted to change the radiation of any of N wavelengths different between the first and second waveguide in the first and second modes, in response to corresponding values of the control signal so that the device can be controlled to pass radiation at any of N wavelengths from any of the ports of input to any of the output ports, and in this way form a 2x2 wavelength dependent super grating coupler. 9. An NxM system for controllably directing the radiation of a selected wavelength from any of N input ports to any of M output ports, comprising a set of distributed wavelength dependent super grating couplers to accept radiation that enters a range of input wavelength and for coupling radiation that enters any of the N input ports to any of the M output ports, comprising a first row of N / 2 input couplers, a row end of M / 2 couplers and a set of intermediate mixing couplers that couple radiation from one or more couplers in a preceding row to one or more couplers in the next row. 10. The device according to claim 9, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional super grid comprises a distribution of a controllable medium that responds to a set of control signals that are adapted to change radiation of any of N different wavelengths between the first and second waveguides in response to corresponding values of the control signal, so that the device can be controlled to pass radiation at any of the N wavelengths from any of the input ports to any of the ports output, and in this way form a super grid grid cross-coupler dependent on the wavelength. 11. A device for receiving optical radiation of N input wavelengths and dividing it into N physically separated channels, comprising: an input channel, a set of wavelength dependent super grating couplers connected in series to the input channel , each of the set of couplers is adapted to couple radiation in a radiation band from the input channel to an output channel. 12. The device according to claim 11, further characterized in that each of the couplers processes only one of the radiation channels N. 13. - The device according to claim 1, further characterized in that at least part of the couplers process a range of radiation channels and the following couplers complete the separation process of each of the N channels. 14. - A device for receiving optical radiation of N input wavelengths and dividing it into N physically separated channels, comprising: an input channel, a two-dimensional wavelength-dependent super grid adapted to reflect radiation of different wavelengths and direct the diverted radiation towards a set of output channels. 15. The device according to claim 14, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional wavelength-dependent super grating deflects the radiation away from the direction of displacement input at angles that depend on the wavelength and focuses said radiation on a set of waveguides for each wavelength channel. 16. - A device for processing optical radiation in a set of wavelengths comprising a set of waveguides having at least one input port and at least one output port, in which a radiation input beam traveling over an input waveguide passes through at least one wavelength dependent on the super grating coupler coupling a selected wavelength band into or out of the input waveguide, so that the optical beam remaining in the input waveguide has a wavelength range that has been added to, or subtracted by, the selected wavelength band. The device according to claim 16, further characterized in that the wavelength-dependent supercombridge coupler adds radiation from a second input port to the input beam. 18. - The device according to claim 16, further characterized in that the wavelength dependent super grating coupler subtracts or subtracts radiation in a wavelength subtraction range from the input beam. 19. - The device according to claim 16, further characterized in that at least two super grid couplers are connected in series, with a first super grid coupler controlling a first wavelength range, and a second super grid coupler that controls a second wavelength range. 20. - A device for monitoring the radiation force in a waveguide, comprising: an input waveguide containing radiation in a selected wavelength range; and a wavelength that depends on the dependent super grating coupler that intersects the radiation and that diverts a portion of the radiation out of the waveguide and onto a radiation meter that responds to the radiation energy that falls on it, by what the magnitude of the deflected radiation is a measure of the magnitude of radiation that travels in the waveguide. 21 - An optical device to alter the spectrum of energy entering from a beam entering and converting the beam entering a leaving beam having an output energy spectrum, comprising: a set of N energy separation modules controllable wavelengths to extract a controllable amount of energy in a wavelength range from the incoming beam, so that the energy spectrum that enters is converted to the energy spectrum that comes out by subtracting the energy from the selected wavelength ranges. 22. - An optical amplifier comprising a gain means for receiving an input beam having an input energy spectrum and increasing the energy thereof, whereby an output beam having an output energy spectrum is formed; comprising an energy control unit for removing a controllable amount of energy in at least one wavelength range from the incoming beam, whereby the input energy spectrum can be adjusted so that the energy spectrum output has a desired profile. 23. - A distribution of waveguides distributed in a grid that comprises a set of input waveguides for receiving multiplexed units comprising at least one wavelength that crosses a set of output waveguides, each of The input waveguides have a series of wavelength-dependent super grating couplers where each couples radiation from a selected output wavelength range to a corresponding output waveguide, so the radiation that It enters with a number of wavelengths over the input waveguides and is classified into a set of output waveguides, each having an output wavelength range. 24. - The device according to claim 23, further characterized in that at least part of the output wavelength ranges cover a channel of length of a single wave. 25. - An optical device for receiving an input beam having a group delay spectrum dependent on input wavelength and applying a compensating group delay spectrum, whereby an output beam is generated, said device comprises: an input port to receive the input beam; at least one supercomputer dependent on the wavelength to impose a delay dependent on the compensation wavelength on the radiation traveling therethrough; and an exit port. 26. - The device according to claim 25, further characterized in that the input port is connected to an optical circulator that couples input radiation to a reflecting super grid reflecting back radiation within the circulator with the wavelength dependent delay printed on it. 27. - The device according to claim 25, further characterized in that the input port is a first end of a first waveguide having a transmitting super grid that passes radiation through it and a second end of the first guide wave with a delay dependent on the wavelength printed on it. 28. - The device according to claim 25, further characterized in that the input port is connected to a reflecting super grid that couples input radiation in the first waveguide that travels in a first direction to a second waveguide and which moves in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction with the wavelength dependent delay printed thereon. 29. - The device according to claim 25, further characterized in that the input port is connected to a transmitting super grid that couples input radiation in the first waveguide that travels in a first direction to a second waveguide that moves in a second direction substantially parallel to the first address with a delay dependent on the wavelength printed on it. 30. - An optical device comprising an input port for receiving incident radiation and directing the radiation on a pixel distribution comprising a super grid, each pixel having a modal refractive index that is selected from a set of index values, the The pixel distribution collectively processes the incident radiation and directs at least one beam of output radiation to at least one output port, in which at least part of the pixel distribution is connected to a control means for controllably adjusting the value of the modal refractive index of the corresponding pixels in response to a control signal, so that the process applied to the incident radiation can be determined by the control signals applied to the control means. 31. - A laser comprising a gain means, a pumping means for establishing an inversion in the gain medium and a means for resonating optical radiation in the gain medium, in which: the means for resonant radiation in the gain medium comprising at least one array of pixels comprising a super grid, each pixel having a modal refractive index that is selected from a set of index values, the pixel array collectively processes the incident radiation, in which at least part of the The pixel array is connected to a control means for controllably adjusting the refractive index value of the corresponding pixels in response to a control signal, so that the process applied to the incident radiation can be determined by the applied control signals to the control medium. 32. - The laser according to claim 31, further characterized in that the super grating resonates radiation in at least two wavelength intervals with a respective loss established by the control signals, so that a specific energy spectrum is established by the control signals. 33. - The laser according to claim 31, further characterized in that the super grid is located outside the gain means. 34. - The laser according to claim 31, further characterized in that the super grid is located within the gain means. 35. - The laser according to claim 31, further characterized in that the super grid is located within the gain medium and the super grid directs radiation of different wavelengths along different paths through the gain medium, thereby establishing a length dependent on the wavelength through the resonator. 36. A device for receiving optical radiation of at least two input wavelengths on at least one of the physically separated channels and combining it into a single output channel, said device comprising: at least two input channels; a one-dimensional or two-dimensional wavelength-dependent super grid adapted to reflect radiation of different wavelengths and direct the deflected radiation towards the output channel. 37. - The device according to claim 36, further characterized in that the one-dimensional or two-dimensional wavelength-dependent super grid diverts radiation away from the offset input directions at angles that depend on the wavelength and focuses said radiation within of the waveguide for the output wavelength channel. 38.- An optical device comprising an input port and at least one output port connected by an asymmetric optical means having a different attenuation in opposite directions and also comprising a super grid that couples radiation within a pass band from the port of entry to the port of departure. 39. - The device according to claim 38, further characterized in that the super grid engages radiation moving in a first direction from a first waveguide to radiation moving in the first direction in a second waveguide. 40. - The device according to claim 38, further characterized in that the super grid engages radiation that moves in a first direction in a waveguide of radiation input that moves in a second direction opposite the first direction in a guide of output wave. 41. - The device according to claim 40, further characterized in that the input waveguide and the output waveguide are the same. 42. - The device according to claim 40, further characterized in that the input waveguide and the output waveguide are physically separated. 43. - An optical device comprising at least one input port and at least one output port connected by an asymmetric optical means having different attenuation in opposite directions, which further comprises a super grid that couples radiation within a pass band from one input port to the next port in sequence. 44. - An optical device comprising an inlet port and an outlet port placed along an optical axis and connected by a super grid that couples radiation within a pass band from the port of entry to the port of exit, which further comprises a set of side pixels extending in two lateral directions that represent an analog profile forming a wavefront design set. 45. - The device according to claim 44, further characterized in that the set of pixels of the super grid are controlled by a controllable means, which responds to a set of control signals, to alter the value of refractive index in the pixels corresponding in the distribution. 46. - A three-dimensional optical device comprising at least one waveguide in a first layer of propagation of grid material for transporting input radiation from a first input port to output radiation leaving from a first output port, and a two-dimensional super grid in a modulation layer of the grid material for coupling the input radiation that propagates from the first port outside the first propagation layer to at least one other propagation layer placed along a third dimensional axis in a different place from the first propagation layer and that has quantized pixels formed therein by radiation processing; and a means for directing processed radiation to the first output port. 47. A material comprising a layer of material that is optically propagated in a reference plane that transmits radiation in a wavelength range, the material is printed with a refractive index change pattern so that the propagation in the reference plane is deleted, the refractive index change pattern is digitized from an analog index of refraction profile. 48. The material according to claim 47, further characterized in that the refractive index change pattern is modified to allow propagation of radiation in the wavelength range within a limited area and in a limited direction. 49.- The material according to claim 47, further characterized in that it is placed on a substrate of photoelectric material, so that the propagation of radiation incident on the photoelectric material is facilitated in comparison with the propagation of radiation that does not impinge on the photoelectric material. 50.- The material according to claim 47, further characterized in that it is capable of laser action with a laser wavelength and has at least one localized area that allows the propagation of radiation and the laser wavelength, so that the emission stimulated at the laser wavelength is confined to resonate within the localized area. 51.- The material according to claim 47, further characterized in that it contains a waveguide which, within which a change in the refractive index pattern is absent, in such a way that the radiation propagates within the guides of wave, material in which the waveguide follows a curve that has a radius of curvature less than the reference value. 52. - The material according to claim 47, further characterized in that it contains two waveguides with a separation region between them, the separation region has the ability to propagate radiation within at least one attenuation length. 53. - The material according to claim 52, further characterized in that the separation region has a refractive index change pattern that allows propagation with a longer attenuation length than the separation between the waveguides. 54. - The material according to claim 47, further characterized in that the material supports a non-linear interaction between two input wavelengths that generates radiation of an input wavelength and the change of refractive index pattern suppresses the propagation of the two input wavelengths and the output wavelength; and at least one waveguide is formed in the material for the propagation of the input and output wavelengths. 55. A method for forming a two-dimensional super grid in a modulation layer of a grid material to convert input radiation that propagates from an input source through a propagation layer of grid material to output radiation that exits of the grid in at least one output path, the method comprises the steps of: generating an index profile of the two-dimensional analog refraction in the modulation layer that implements a transfer function in relation to electromagnetic fields characteristic of the radiation of input and output radiation; digitizing the analog refractive index profile to generate an array of pixels in the modulation layer having digitized values of refractive index by utilizing a two-dimensional technique that retains the Fourier information within one or more regions of the representation of two-dimensional spatial frequency of the two-dimensional analog refractive index profile; and impose the arrangement of pixels representing the digitized refractive index profile on the modulation layer. 56. - The method according to claim 55, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of selecting a grid of two-dimensional sampling of grid pixels; establish a total length and width of the device; wherein the digitizing step includes setting a value for the refractive index in each lattice pixel of the total sampled lattice. 57. - The method according to claim 55, further characterized in that the scanning step includes calculating an intermediate sampled index profile wherein the value at each sample point of the sampled index profile is equal to the value for the refractive index of the analog refractive index profile at a corresponding point in the sampled grid. 58. - The method according to claim 55, further characterized in that the step of: converting the reflectance specifications of the transfer function to the Fourier domain; specify grid parameters in the Fourier domain; and convert the grid parameters to the spatial domain, whereby the analog profile in the spatial domain is determined. 59. The method according to claim 55, further characterized in that it comprises specifying component phases of the analog refractive index profile in a manner such that the maximum value of the refractive index of the analog refractive index profile is minimized. 60. A method for forming an effective one-dimensional super grid in a modulation layer of grid material to convert the incoming radiation propagating along an axis from an input source through a propagation layer of material grid to output radiation that leaves the grid on the axis, the method comprises the steps of: generating a two-dimensional analog refractive index profile in the modulation layer that implements a transfer function in relation to the characteristic electromagnetic fields of the input radiation and output radiation; digitizing the analog refractive index profile to generate a distribution of pixels in the modulation layer having refractive index values digitized by using a two-dimensional technique that maintains the Fourier components within one or more of the regions of the two-dimensional spatial frequency representation of the three-dimensional analog refractive index profile; and imposing the array of pixels representing the digitized refractive index profile on a portion of the modulation layer that extends laterally from the axis by a lateral distance. 61.- A method for forming a three-dimensional super grid in a modulation volume of grid material to convert the incoming radiation that propagates from an input source through the grid material to output radiation leaving the grid over at least one output path, the method comprising the steps of: generating a three-dimensional analog refractive index profile in the modulation volume that implements a transfer function in relation to the electromagnetic fields characteristic of the input radiation and the radiation of exit; digitizing the analog refractive index profile to generate a distribution of pixels in the modulation layer having refractive index values digitized by using a three-dimensional technique that retains the Fourier information within one or more of the regions of the three-dimensional spatial frequency representation of the two-dimensional analog refractive index profile; and impose the distribution of pixels representing the digitized refractive index profile on the modulation layer. 62.- A method for forming a one-dimensional, two-dimensional or three-dimensional super grid in a modulation layer of grid material to convert the incoming radiation that propagates from an input source through a propagation layer of the grid material to radiation output that leaves the grid on at least one output path, the method comprising the steps of: generating a one-dimensional analog refractive index profile p in the modulation layer that implements a transfer function in relation to the fields electromagnetic characteristics of the input radiation and the output radiation; generate a filter function H that selects the spatial frequency intervals in which the spectral information is conserved and assign weights to them; Solve the optimization problem represented by: where X is a vector containing the refractive index values of the binary super grid, V is a vector of Lagrange multipliers, L determines the type of standard for optimization and n aj0 and naito > are the low and high refractive index values of the binary supergrids, respectively; whereby the binary super grid index refractive index profile, X, is calculated in the modulation layer that converts the input radiation into output radiation; and impose the distribution of pixels representing the digitized refractive index profile on the modulation layer, whereby the input radiation is converted to output radiation.